Investing in Our Children's Future

Monday

Sep 9, 2013 at 10:15 AM

With a new school year underway, I can't help but recall my own back-to-school days. One year in particular stands out in my mind. My family had just returned home to Connecticut, following my dad's four year job assignment in Europe. I was excited about rejoining my friends in fifth grade, but nervous about fitting in after so many years away. Fortunately, I received a lot of support from my family and community.I'm sure our local students are filled with their own mixed feelings about the new term – regret that summer is over, excitement about the experiences in front of them, and questions about whether they'll be able to master their new coursework. But they also face new challenges than the ones I faced years ago.First, they have less certainty than recent generations that they'll find good jobs upon graduation and the skills they will need are increasingly complex. There is greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as more companies rely on innovation to distinguish themselves in a global marketplace. A U.S. Department of Commerce report shows that growth in STEM jobs has been three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs over the last 10 years. And throughout the next decade, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17 percent, compared to just-under 10 percent growth for other occupations.At the same time, school districts are dealing with a serious funding crisis. It's tough to enhance educational programs while struggling with budgetary issues that impact staffing and core curricula.Taxpayers are doing their part, but cannot bear the burden alone. That's why partnerships between businesses and local educational institutions are so important. After all, the entire community has a stake in our children's future.As a 162-year-old company that plans on being around for another 162 years, Corning cares deeply about the next generation. We believe that, after family, a strong education is the primary building block for success. And because we like to hire from the communities where we operate, we also have a practical stake in ensuring that tomorrow's workforce is armed with the skills necessary to compete in today's global economy. That's why we have a long tradition of investing in education.Over the past four years, the Corning Foundation has provided grants totaling more than $14 million to the Corning-Painted Post School District. We also support a broad range of initiatives such as the International Baccalaureate program, the Full Option Science System (FOSS), scholarships at Notre Dame High School and, of course, the Alternative School for Math and Science. Our people also contribute their time and talent through programs such as Partners in Education, which sends scientists and engineers into classrooms to provide demonstrations and bring science concepts to life.We believe these investments are paying off. After just one year of FOSS in grades 6-8 in the C-PP school district, mastery rates on standardized tests improved by 42 percent. The International Baccalaureate program has provided access to new opportunities such as Chinese language classes. At ASMS, approximately 75 percent of graduates pursue STEM courses of study, which is well above the 15 percent national average. And our grants to the C-PP school district were used to maintain staff and programs that would have been eliminated otherwise, impacting the quality of education.We may not see the ultimate payoff for several years when today's students advance into tomorrow's workforce. But I like to imagine a future when these students not only secure good jobs, but are driven by passion for their work, inspired by life-long curiosity, and proud to know that their individual contributions really do make a difference in the world. So Corning will continue to partner with the school district to identify areas where we can help, and do our part to ensure that the students in our community have the best educational opportunities possible.On behalf of Corning Incorporated, I wish our students and teachers the very best for the 2013/2014 school year and beyond.